Innovation Award

A team of 12 sixth graders from Plaza, coached by teacher Tim Kalis, won the Most Innovative award from the Northland Center for Advanced Professional Studies program on Feb. 29.

The team members, Noah Beckert, Maya Sullivan, Jack Gorman, Justin Holt, Anoush Zadoyan, Breanna Bailey, Jacob Steitz, Reese Jackson, Josephine Payne, Julia Fleischman, Tanner Hermanson and Madilyn McNearney formed the Incredibles Design Company and worked with Exhibit Associates Inc. in Kansas City, Mo., to mock up a design for a trade booth for Richardson Oilseed, a Canadian agribusiness.

The students practiced their problem-solving skills by researching both companies, learning about branding, working with a simulated budget to calculate cost of materials, drawing their designs, and using digital design tools. They presented their process to the Northland CAPS program, and they will present it to Exhibit Associates for feedback.